Category: Planning

Beware of Tax Torpedoes and the IRMAA Cliff

Tax traps are waiting. Did you it’s possible to be smack in the middle of the 22% tax bracket, yet taking an additional $1,000 in income could make that additional money taxable at 40%? It can happen to some taxpayers. In fact, there are other pitfalls many aren’t aware of, as well.

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Retirement Planning with Rising Rates and Inflation

Retirement planning was much easier during working years than the challenge of managing after retirement. During the working years it’s relatively simple: just keep stashing money into your retirement plan and let the markets, over decades, do the rest!

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17 Unexpected Retirement Expenses

I wish I could take credit for this list, but I can’t. This is from the Society of Actuaries who outlined these unexpected or shocking expenses in its 2015 Risks and Process of Retirement Survey. I doubt it’s changed much since. Here they’re ranked by the likelihood of it happening.

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Women and Social Security Land Mines

Bad decisions can create time bombs, and few decisions can be as disastrous as those that result from the mistakes many women make when it comes to claiming Social Security benefits. This is particularly true for widows, divorced spouses, and stay-at-home parents.

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IRA Rollover Mistakes Can Be Irrevocable

IRA rollover mistakes are easy to make and could be impossible to correct. It’s worth understanding that every time IRA or 401(k) money is touched, it’s a gamble for those who don’t know what they’re doing.

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